From Nothing to Moneyhttps://frommybrain.com
Business Ideas From My Brain
Fri, 22 Feb 2019 00:41:16 +0000 en-US
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3232Phase #2 Companion for Seniorshttps://frommybrain.com/2019/02/20/companion-for-seniors/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/20/companion-for-seniors/#respondWed, 20 Feb 2019 03:46:16 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=693Visit with and assist seniors with minor duties in their home. In North America we have a large aging population of elderly. That means there are more and more seniors needing attention every year. Many have been widowed already or housebound and are therefore, lonely. There is a big need for a companion for elderly […]

In North America we have a large aging population of elderly. That means there are more and more seniors needing attention every year. Many have been widowed already or housebound and are therefore, lonely. There is a big need for a companion for elderly that can be very rewarding and offer a satisfying pay.

This is a Phase #2 because in order to advertise and offer your services, you would need a computer, internet, phone and methods of transportation. Equally, the experience and a strong portfolio showing all the services you’ve successfully provided helps. Finally, for the sake of purity, Phase #1’s technically don’t have any of that because they’re starting from absolute 0.

Using Phase #1 money, it’s time to buy a computer and phone. If a computer is still out of budget, that’s ok, pay at an internet cafe until you can buy one. Post your ad on online classifieds with your new phone number offering companionship and light assistance to seniors. All you have to do to be successful at this is be honest, friendly, helpful and a good listener. Swear to god they’ll love you! No special talents or years of college needed.

They will call and the process should begin with a meet and greet or interview so they can see what you’re like and get a vibe off of you. From there, it’s time to schedule a first session. At the visits, the duties may include simply hanging out and talking, going for a walk, helping with cleaning, helping with meals, etc. We want to keep the pay for this service at a modest $10/hr with a 2 hr minimum. Again, affordable and hard to resist. At first, one visit per day for 5 out of 7 days each week is $100. After things get rolling, tripling that is realistic. The beauty with this project is that it can be coupled with another project since it doesn’t take up much time.

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/20/companion-for-seniors/feed/0Phase #2 Housecleanerhttps://frommybrain.com/2019/02/17/housecleaner/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/17/housecleaner/#respondSun, 17 Feb 2019 01:47:11 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=680Using mostly self-owned equipment, clean houses, commercial spaces and construction new-builds. If you’re decent, this one can make a killing! Welcome to Phase #2! You have a little money now from the previous phase to invest in a Phase #2 project, and a housecleaning business is simple enough. By now, you should have a good […]

]]>Using mostly self-owned equipment, clean houses, commercial spaces and construction new-builds. If you’re decent, this one can make a killing!

Welcome to Phase #2! You have a little money now from the previous phase to invest in a Phase #2 project, and a housecleaning business is simple enough. By now, you should have a good reputation that follows you and quite possibly a significant client base established from a previous Phase #1 project. A clean (pardon the pun) reputation is of utmost importance when people trust you in their homes. That’s why we don’t consider this a good Phase #1.

There is a fantastic wage to earn doing cleaning. I know many companies and private people that charge between $30/hr to $40/hr per cleaner because, well, I’ve got quotes from them. Even unbonded nobodies with no advertising or an actual formal business confidently charges those rates!

Equipment to invest in is rubber gloves, high quality vacuum, mop and bucket, rags, paper towels, garbage bags and a variety of cleaning chemicals. It isn’t completely necessary to own all of these things because some places will have these items already and you just come in and go at it. My Wasaga Beach cottage rental business is set up that way. Throughout the summer, we have a single or couple come in and clean using all our supplies. They show up with empty hands and leave with money. We at From Nothing to Money are about owning equipment though, so we’ll get back the startup costs. Plus it’s easier to ask a higher rate and it’s more professional looking when you own:

Rubber gloves $2

Quality used vacuum $125

Mop and Bucket $10

Rags $1

Paper towels $2

Garbage bags $5

Chemicals $20

That’s $165 to get started for your first clean job. Heck, come to think of it, that can be made back in a day. After getting rolling and jobs under your belt, it’s a good idea to have insurance in case you break a customer’s item, as well as it puts the customer at ease knowing that they are covered if you steal… even though you never will.

To get the jobs, advertise on the local online classifieds, word of mouth, go door to door, and approach the customers that you already have from your previous project. For new-build construction cleaning, approach site foremen to bid on cleaning the houses right after they’ve been freshly built to have them ready for new occupants.

While the going rate averages around $30/hr in my area of Ontario, Canada, we always want to place our rate low enough that it’s difficult for the customer to resist. You want to entice the people who are thinking, “for $30/hr we may as well do it ourselves!” yet they will let you do it if you come in at $17/hr, for example. At least in the beginning, $17/hr is a dynamite rate, yet can add up if a couple of 2 hour jobs are booked 5 days per week. Obviously, far more if you’re cleaning 8 hours, 5 days a week (fyi: that’s $680/week). Deduct a couple dollars per job for chemicals, paper towels, etc.

Bonus Side Effects:

Housecleaning is a foot in the door for other services that can be offered to that customer.

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/17/housecleaner/feed/0Phase #1 Buskinghttps://frommybrain.com/2019/02/12/busking/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/12/busking/#respondMon, 11 Feb 2019 20:08:32 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=644Sell your talents to the public on the street such as singing, feats of strength, dancing, painting, drawing, etc. Busking is not begging, so we believe it’s fair game. It is performing entertainment for people voluntarily and if they choose to offer money for that, great. Performers in clubs and theatres get paid, so what’s […]

]]>Sell your talents to the public on the street such as singing, feats of strength, dancing, painting, drawing, etc.

Busking is not begging, so we believe it’s fair game. It is performing entertainment for people voluntarily and if they choose to offer money for that, great. Performers in clubs and theatres get paid, so what’s the difference?

Sometimes poor, along with the rest of society have a latent skill that is worth money to someone. If so, it should be used, especially if it’s a skill that’s enjoyable, dammit!

Travelling to different countries around the world I’ve witnessed a variety of buskers. So far, Peru had the most as well as the widest variety. In centro de Lima (downtown Lima), for example, there are mime-types who dress up in a soldier costume and stand completely still until someone puts money in the container. They then do a 2 second movement and then hold that new pose. Peru has singers, musicians, dancers and even people carrying around baby llamas for photo opportunities for pay.

To be pure, our phase 1’s presume no money, no possessions. That really limits what can be busked at this point. Technically, the beginners here have no musical instruments or props. Some ideas are singing, dancing, preaching, feats of strength, acrobatics, cold reading (psychic readings), one-man plays, and comedy. All of these thing can be learned in the process by the way. Start busking and practicing the skill right away and it will still produce some money. It will likely be pity money at first… wink. Truth be told, I’m likely to give money for the honest attempt and effort that they put in. Many others would give the same way too.

Next, carefully choose a busy spot where you won’t get into trouble and the people are likely to not only appreciate that talent, but they actually have money to give. Bad place=in front of homeless shelter. Good place=subway station

Bonus Side Effects:

An awesome skill is learned inadvertently!

Potential Minimum Income:

Tough to pinpoint, but $6/hour is fair to presume. That’s only $1 per 10 minutes.

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/12/busking/feed/0Phase #3 Grass Cutting 3https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/12/grass-cutting-3/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/12/grass-cutting-3/#respondMon, 11 Feb 2019 19:23:54 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=655Expanding into hiring employees to cut grass under the business name. This is an ideal phase to follow Phase #2 Grass Cutting 2, but can succeed many of our Phase 2’s. When you’re too busy or you simply want to limit how much time you’ll devote to work, it’s time to expand. Leverage your established […]

]]>Expanding into hiring employees to cut grass under the business name.

This is an ideal phase to follow Phase #2 Grass Cutting 2, but can succeed many of our Phase 2’s. When you’re too busy or you simply want to limit how much time you’ll devote to work, it’s time to expand. Leverage your established customer base, great reputation, attractive rates, and previously earned money to buy another lawnmower and trimmer… and hire your first employee!

There are a finite amount of hours in a day and only so many lawns can get cut by one person, so the profit has limits. We say, go for expansion to multiply the income. Pay someone around $8 to cut each customer’s yard for you while you are out cutting others. It takes around 35 minutes to cut an average city yard, so that equates to about $14/h in pay. Charge that customer a modest $12-15 and you have a $4-$7 profit on each yard. Deduct gasoline, and oil if using a trimmer, to end up netting $3-$5 per yard. Multiply that by 8 yards per day and all of the sudden it’s $24-$40 extra that you’re making each day on top of $80-$120 you’re making from cutting yourself. Now it’s starting to get attractive!

I wrote in the Grass Cutting Phase #1 about a company that I helped who had started as twin brothers hauling a lawnmower around in the trunk of their old car, going door to door cutting grass. Today, they have a handful of crews out doing window washing, gutter cleaning, tree work, lawn care, and several office workers hitting the phone lines drumming up business with existing and potential customers.

Bonus Side Effects:

Similar to our successful twins, you’re cutting grass for customers anyway, so it’s possible to branch out more and offer them light duty tree work, gutter cleaning, snow removal after grass season, and more.

Potential Minimum Income:

Original $80-$120/day + daily profit from each employee of $24-$40= $104-$160 daily profit.

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/02/12/grass-cutting-3/feed/0Phase #2 Volunteer First 2https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/28/volunteer-first-2/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/28/volunteer-first-2/#respondMon, 28 Jan 2019 00:02:16 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=620Spend time apprenticing and volunteering for experts. Just like the Phase #1 Volunteer First, we highly recommend generously giving time to volunteer and learn from people who are experts in a given field. The approach of giving first (volunteering) without expecting any direct pay is a fantastic way to glean valuable information, learn skills and […]

Just like the Phase #1 Volunteer First, we highly recommend generously giving time to volunteer and learn from people who are experts in a given field. The approach of giving first (volunteering) without expecting any direct pay is a fantastic way to glean valuable information, learn skills and make connections. While many people are looking for free handouts these days, our protocol advocates aren’t afraid to dig in and put themselves out there first- humble themselves enough to work without pay and admit they have much to learn.

This is a phase 2 because we’re talking about upping the volunteer game and dealing with experts and high-ups using experience and knowledge gained from the phase 1’s. The experience gained from CEO’s, business owners, professional athletes, and skilled people is unmatchable. Experience is often valued more than than paid education. Volunteering under the right mentor can yield a possible great job offer in the future or the knowledge to run a wildly successful business. All for almost no cost whatsoever.

Give first, it’s easier to trust that. Mentors won’t just help anyone. Be ready to start at the bottom- however, aim for the bottom of a very tall ladder. Call the expert’s office or stop by and try to get a meeting with them. Well calibrated persistence is key.

Recently, I scored a meeting with a big player in my city. I knew I had wanted to meet him for a couple of years now after driving by his properties all the time with an admiration. It was actually easy to meet him. I stopped by his office one day by chance, and the receptionist gave me his card. When I got home, I called him right away and he picked up. He was very brief and the only things he said was, “who are you?” I answer. Next was, “what do you want?” I answer. And last was, “can you come in at 10am?” I say, “absolutely,” and I just hear a click. No goodbye.

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/28/volunteer-first-2/feed/0Phase #1 Trade Uphttps://frommybrain.com/2019/01/14/trade-up/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/14/trade-up/#respondMon, 14 Jan 2019 02:43:36 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=595Trade from a most basic item all the way up to… well… as high of value item as possible. See where we’re going with this post by watching this video. Trades happen all the time and the most successful ones are when both parties really need each others’ items. It’s a matter of necessity. Trading […]

]]>Trade from a most basic item all the way up to… well… as high of value item as possible.

See where we’re going with this post by watching this video.

Trades happen all the time and the most successful ones are when both parties really need each others’ items. It’s a matter of necessity. Trading a regular 50″ tv for a 40″ smart tv is pretty much a lateral trade- it isn’t going anywhere. There are certain items that are generally popular and have a broader range of possible people to trade with. Those items are “needed” more. It’s all about having what people need.

Trades can be started even on the street with strangers. One time I had a guy walking by my house that tried to sell me a tent. I almost went for it. Yes, he was selling, but the point is that he was just walking down the sidewalk and traded a tent for money. If using a library for internet, online classifieds are rife with trade possibilities and a perfect place to list an item.

Bonus Side Effects:

Some cool possessions can be acquired.

Potential Minimum Income:

Valuable items are obtained and can be sold.

Potential is limitless. See the above video about a paperclip turning into a house!

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/14/trade-up/feed/0Phase #1 Club and Restaurant Promoterhttps://frommybrain.com/2019/01/07/club-and-restaurant-promoter/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/07/club-and-restaurant-promoter/#respondMon, 07 Jan 2019 01:01:46 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=550Be paid by clubs, bars, and restaurants to send customers to their establishments. When I used to go out on the odd Friday or Saturday night, in my city there’s a place you could go if you want free cover at the more popular bars. It was where a couple girls would hang out on […]

]]>Be paid by clubs, bars, and restaurants to send customers to their establishments.

When I used to go out on the odd Friday or Saturday night, in my city there’s a place you could go if you want free cover at the more popular bars. It was where a couple girls would hang out on the street handing out free cover passes. On each of the cards was her name written in the corner so that the club knew who to pay the commission to. All they were doing was standing around at night handing out cards as people walked by!

Clubs and bars are always looking to jam more people in, so they pay promoters to send people there to drink. Being a promoter doesn’t take much more than being very outgoing and eventually be shameless posting online and messaging people. At this stage, simply handing out cards or meeting lots of people is key. First, approach the owners and general managers of some bars with the proposal of driving more customers to their establishment. They would certainly have a hard time turning away anyone interested in helping them make more money. Next, meet people, meet people, meet people. Make friends with everyone!

That is a very basic form of promoting. Many promoters around the world make a very comfortable living from club promoting. In the basic form, one could expect around $1 per person that they send to the club.

Over the course of several nighttime hours, at least 20 people could be met and sent to the associated club. Further, drumming up club guests through the day will earn even more. Promoting on weekends is the holy grail though.

Bonus Side Effects:

Tons of friends are made and connections to other possible opportunities. You never know!

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/07/club-and-restaurant-promoter/feed/0Phase #1 Personal Conciergehttps://frommybrain.com/2019/01/04/personal-concierge/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/04/personal-concierge/#respondFri, 04 Jan 2019 02:57:42 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=523For tips, assist travellers and new-comers to the area with connections to different services that they may need. When anyone arrives to a new area, they need solid advice for an honest and fair priced cabbie, a good restaurant hook up, day-trips and tours, exciting bars advice, and more. It is customary for someone to […]

]]>For tips, assist travellers and new-comers to the area with connections to different services that they may need.

When anyone arrives to a new area, they need solid advice for an honest and fair priced cabbie, a good restaurant hook up, day-trips and tours, exciting bars advice, and more. It is customary for someone to pay a tip for such services. That, or they have an arrangement with each service provider to send people to them.

I’ve been on vacation to places where there are fellows putting themselves out there to us tourists by setting us up with what we want and need. For example, I remember coming ashore from a cruise ship in Dominican Republic and being met by a random local who offered a connection to everything from bars to drugs to restaurants to transportation and even to girls. I actually did use his help to arrange a motorcycle ride and a little restaurant for lunch… and subsequently tipped him with a sense of obligation like a slap in the face.

Heck, everyone has heard of the cabbies in different cities dropping inquisitive new-comers off at over-priced clubs because they ask the cabbies which clubs are fun. Ultimately, it’s and empty club with ridiculous prices. The driver gets a kickback for taking the unsuspecting tourists there.

Similar to the club promoter, this phase realizes the need to be outgoing and personable. It begins with making acquaintances with good cabbies, restaurants, and other tourist-geared providers. Next, be positioned at places like airports, train and bus stations where people are arriving and need guidance. Being friendly and helpful will surely earn tips in the $2-$5 range. It is waaaay better than begging and even beggars offering absolutely nothing make a surprisingly modest living, considering.

Approach people asking them what they need. Aid them and walk them to these needed things.

Bonus Side Effects:

Make great connections with people.

Get possible kickbacks from the service providers and businesses. Probably discounts also.

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/04/personal-concierge/feed/0Phase #2 Snowblowing 2https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/02/snowblowing2/
https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/02/snowblowing2/#respondTue, 01 Jan 2019 20:23:12 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=491Blow snow from residential and commercial customers’ driveways and walk ways in the winter. This project can begin after any Phase #1, but perfectly complements Phase #1 Shovel Snow, utilizing the same customers. In this phase, however, it is required to invest in some equipment, specifically a snowblower and shovel, regardless of which Phase #1 […]

]]>Blow snow from residential and commercial customers’ driveways and walk ways in the winter.

This project can begin after any Phase #1, but perfectly complements Phase #1 Shovel Snow, utilizing the same customers. In this phase, however, it is required to invest in some equipment, specifically a snowblower and shovel, regardless of which Phase #1 small business preceded this phase.

A snowblower can be found through several online classifieds such as Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace. A modest priced blower has a ballpark cost of $350, gas can $10, gasoline $10 and a new shovel for $30. Use Phase #1 money for this.

Using the same tactics as the Phase #1 Shovel Snow project, go door to door blowing driveways and shovelling walkways. Snowblowers can be easily pushed down the street and almost all of them drive themselves. By this time, some regular customers can be acquired using a purchased cell phone. After each cleanup job, obtain the customer’s phone number and store it for future snowfalls or possible contracts with them.

With self-owned equipment more credibility is earned and a slightly higher pay than the Phase #1 Shovel Snow.

I learned that blowing snow, especially after a snowfall, can earn significant money. One day after a large snowfall a few years ago, a friend and I travelled around a few neighbourhoods with my snowblower and a shovel cleaning driveways. The minimum we received was $20 and the last place we did was even $40 (the customer offered that much). On top of it, that last customer asked if we could do it for them on the regular. We could’ve asked more because almost every house we tried, we got the job. For a few hours work we made a way with $100 each; $33/hr each. Not bad.

We don’t suggest that $33/hr will be made regularly, but for our estimates, using fast, self-owned equipment, this small business project could pull off 2.5 driveways per hour, including moving to the next place. Only operating 7 hours per day, that’s 18 driveways per day and likely one snow day opportunity per week. An irresistible cost per 2-car driveway is $14.

Bonus Side Effects:

With relationships built with customers, this could become summer work cutting grass, utilizing our Phase #2 Cut Grass method.

]]>https://frommybrain.com/2019/01/02/snowblowing2/feed/0Phase #1 Volunteer Firsthttps://frommybrain.com/2018/12/29/volunteer-first/
https://frommybrain.com/2018/12/29/volunteer-first/#respondSat, 29 Dec 2018 13:35:06 +0000https://frommybrain.com/?p=466There’s no better way to prove one’s worth than to put in time volunteering until the employer is comfortable enough to offer regular paid work. From the start, OUR program presumes that the participant has no skills and only a neutral rating of trust. The best way to gain both is to find an interesting […]

]]>There’s no better way to prove one’s worth than to put in time volunteering until the employer is comfortable enough to offer regular paid work.

From the start, OUR program presumes that the participant has no skills and only a neutral rating of trust. The best way to gain both is to find an interesting place to work and ask to volunteer there. After a few days of proving a good work ethic, it should be enough to inspire the boss to hire or not. Believe us, bosses will appreciate this approach.

We can guarantee this is not happening much in the trades and manual labour. I have overheard construction managers talking about the revolving door of employees and how hard it is to find decent workers. New people walk on the job site and bail out by lunch… or don’t show up in the first place! Common examples of these peoples’ excuses are, “it’s too hard,” or “this is crap work,” or “it doesn’t pay enough.” The truth is that they are too lazy and entitled. That, and having welfare to fall back on has made it too easy to walk away from honest work.

On the flip side, it would be a breath of fresh air to have someone approach a boss offering to prove that they will show up and prove that they are willing to learn and put in a full day work. Someone living by this philosophy will ALWAYS be successful and leave a trail of awesome references.

The great thing about this Phase #1 is that the program can stop after a good job is secured. In the spirit of seeing the program through it’s entirety, this new full time work creates fast income to create a financial foundation to begin a Phase #2 on the way to building a small business empire.